A Reading From The Kalevala

The epic poem, Kalevala, is celebrated by the Finns this day (February 28) with parades and readings from the poem. The Kalevala recounts a battle of wits between three wizard brothers and the witch goddess, Louhi. It is a treasure trove of ancient shamanistic practices and spells. Here's a reading:

Wainamoinen's Harp Songs

Then the singer of Wainola

Took the harp of his creation,

Quick adjusting, sweetly tuning,

Deftly plied his skillful fingers

To the strings that he had fashioned....

...I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins, and can be found in its entirety here: Wainamoinen's Harp Songs

The Circle I walk

"I walk to the North of my sacred space;

Herein all negativity be erased.

I walk to the east where the magic winds dance...

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Festival of the Boundary Markers

Termini in Roman mythology began as boundary markers between wilderness settings. The termini were rural boundary stones marking property lines between fields and neighbors. There was an annual ceremony each 23rd day of February called the Terminalia when first fruits were offered and libations of oil and honey were poured over the termini to renew the power or forces within the boundary stones between properties. Ovid presents the story as follows

When night has passed, let the god be celebrated
With customary honour, who separates the fields with his sign....

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Ritual For A Day of Peace in the Family

Color: Lavender
Element: Water
Altar: Upon a lavender cloth set a tray of cakes shaped like clasping hands, and many cups full of hot tea.
Offerings: Promise to attempt to be more considerate of those you live with.
Daily Meal: Any food, but it must be served from one great plate for every table, and it should not be in separate portions.

Invocation:

May there be Peace in this house.

(Response: "May there be peace in this house!")

Peace can be a hard mistress.

The daily round of the ordinary,...

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Protection From Beyond

Romany spiritual traditions combine a dislike of disturbing the dead with a desire for the protective capacities cemetery dirt offers. Although one might not want to disturb one's own ancestors or someone one knows, there's no actual fear of the cemetery, thus an anonymous, unknown grave is chosen.

This spell harnesses abstract, protective qualities inherent in graveyard dirt to protect a child embarking on a long journey. Here's how...

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Feralia - A Roman Day of the Dead

The Feralia was the closing festival of the ancient Roman festival of Parentalia. During the Feralia, families would picnic at the tombs of their deceased family members and give libations to the dearly departed. It was believed that the shades of the dead could walk upon the earth above their graves during Feralia.

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Camphor Moon Spell

Camphor is under the dominion of the moon. The lunar palace of Lady Chang'O is allegedly crafted from cinnamon wood, however both true cinnamon and camphor derive from trees of the Cinnamonium family. Maybe the Moon Lady's palace was built from camphor wood.

Because of this connection, camphor can transmit some of the moon's protective and luck drawing powers. Here's how...

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The Lupercalia

Lupercalia is uniquely Roman, but even the Romans of the first century were at a loss to explain exactly which deity or deities were being exalted. It harkens back to the days when Rome was nothing more than a few shepherds living on a hill known as Palantine and was surrounded by wilderness teeming with wolves.

Lupercus, protector of flocks against wolves, is a likely candidate; the word lupus is Latin for wolf, or perhaps Faunus, the god of agriculture and shepherds. Others suggest it was Rumina, the goddess whose temple stood near the fig tree under which the she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus. There is no question about Lupercalia's importance. ...

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Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day has its roots in ancient orgiastic festivals. On February 14, The Romans celebrated Febris (meaning fever), a sacred sexual frenzy in honor of Juno Februa, an aspect of the goddess of amorous love. This sex fest coincided with the time when the birds in Italy were thought to mate.

The ecstatic rites of the Goddess merged over time with those of Lupercalia, the bawdy festivities in honor of the pagan god of sex, drugs and rock-n-roll, Pan, which were observed on the following day, February 15....

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Invocation to the Angel of Venus

Use this invocation to ask the archangel of Venus, Anael, to bless and bring harmony to a romantic relationship. Light a candle at Anael's hour (between 9 and 10am) and burn some rose incense. Scatter a few pink rose petals on your altar, and then say the invocation.

The Invocation:

Archangel Anael, angel of the mystic planet Venus,

as I light this candle,

my consciousness opens to receive your divine influence...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Invocation to the Angel of Venus

Quick Guide to Casting Spells

– A General Set of Steps to Follow
– By Melinda

Magic spells are amazing ways to take back our power, one which had been taken away for centuries by organized religions and the people who presume that they personally know the Creator and are the only ones who are capable of communing with HER or HIM.Magic spells allow us to use the tremendous energy that each of us have for creating magick in our lives.

However, there are some simple rules that people need to remember when working spells. First and foremost; remember...

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Wands For Special Purposes

• Wand for Love and Seduction: Copper topped with rose quartz.
• Lunar Wand: Place a moonstone atop a silver wand, for moone, love, and fertility magick.
• Mermaid's Wand: Driftwood topped with coral, pearls, or shells for lunar, love, fertility, and money. magick as well as rituals by the sea....

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Favored Woods For Magickal Wands

Here is a list of the different woods favored by different magickal traditions:

• Ainu: Bamboo, with leaves remaining. Top carved into spiral designs
• Berber: Oleander
• Celtic: Hawthorn, hazel
• China: Peach, willow
• Druid (British): Hawthorn, rowan, yew...

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What is a wand?

From wikipedia we have this scholarly definition of a wand:

A wand is a thin, straight, hand-held stick of wood, stone, ivory, or metal. Generally, in modern language, wands are ceremonial and/or have associations with magic but there have been other uses, all stemming from the original meaning as a synonym of rod and virge, both of which had a similar development....

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Making A Wand

One of the first home-made tools of any Witch is the wand,

as it is usually relatively simple.

Most Witches would agree that a wand should be made from wood, preferably fallen not cut. First, find the tree your wood will come from; remember you want it to give you something of itself for your magical work, so take it an offering of some kind by way of introducing yourself....

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Fornacalia - Day of the Ovens

The Fornacalia was held in honor of bread, and the ovens used to dry grains. This festival was movable, and could have been held any time between Febuary 5th to February 17th.

• Color: Brown
• Element: Fire
• Altar: This ritual should be performed in the kitchen, with the altar built on top of the stove or inside the oven. Set a brown cloth with a red candle and many loaves of bread on wooden trays.
• Offerings: Give some of the loaves of bread to those who have need of it.
• Daily Meal: Everything baked - breads, cakes, pies, casseroles.

 Invocation to Fornax:

Goddess of the Oven

 Lady of Fire Enclosed...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: The Fornacalia

Disting - The Charming of the Plough

Time: Early to Mid-February, Normally Observed at First New Moon
Focus: Disir, Goddesses & The Beginning of the Planting Season
Overall: A time to honor the Disir (in a broad sense), Goddesses and those connected with the coming power of Spring - the Vanir, local land wights and Nerthus to name a few examples.

Charming of the Plow is a ceremony that marks the beginning of the planting season; when the first furrows are made in the fields. In the Old World that usually meant bonding with and asking for the blessing of Gods and Goddess, the local land spirits and perhaps anyone else who might help insure the crops are a success...

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Setsubun!

Japan has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The term setsubun originally referred to the days marking the change from one season to the next, so that there were four of them, but today only the day before risshun (the beginning of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar) is called by that name. Setsubun comes on either February 3 or 4, depending on the year.

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Camphor Protection Spell

During the days of the polio epidemics, mothers hung camphor balls around children's necks to ward away illness. This spell works under the same premises, except that what you're warding off is the metaphysical virus of an unwanted romantic attention, or to ward off illness, negativity, or whatever you would like to repel....

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Camphor Cool Off Spell

Camphor is a substance frequently taken for granted. It's used in many lotions and cosmetics because of the cooling sensation it provides. Camphor, botanically related to cinnamon, is considered a sacred lunar plant. In Marco Polo's time it was bartered for with gold...

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Magickal Uses of Camphor

Ruler: Moon, Buddha
Type: Extract from tree
Magickal Form: oil, whole chunks

Obtained from the evergreen tree, this fragrant white compound holds many spiritual properties. In voodoo rituals, it is burned for love and attraction. It is one of the most sacred substances to offer to the moon goddess on a new moon to thank her for her abundant blessings.

Camphor is also used in cleansing and purification rituals. Use it to get rid of unwanted passions or unwanted admirers....

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Candlemas

Candlemas is the Christianized name for Imbolc, and all of the church candles are blessed for the year. The Virgin Mary is also honored. Today, this holiday is chiefly connected to weather lore. Even our American calendar keeps the tradition of Groundhog Day, a day to predict the coming weather. The Groundhog Day tradition tells us that if the Groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of bad weather. An old British rhyme instructed:

If Candlemas day be fair and bright,

Winter will have another flight.

If Candlemas day be shower and rain,

Winter is gone and will not come again.

We pagans see the God as an infant during the time of Imbolc...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Candlemas

Other Ways of Making Imbolc

As this is a time of new life and growth, it is appropriate to plant bulbs or flowers or to sow seeds. However, you will need to use your judgement and some local knowledge to decide whether to actually do so at Imbolc or whether to wait a week (or several) until the last frosts have passed. Of course seeds can often be started indoors and planted out a month or so later...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been merged with more information on Imbolc and has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Imbolc - A New Beginning

Crescent Cakes For Imbolc

Baking is appropriate for celebrating Imbolc, and we often make Crescent cakes for the end of our Imbolc ritual. Here is our circle’s favorite recipe:

• 1 1/4 cups Flour
• 3/4 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Finely Ground Almonds
• 3 drops Almond Extract
• 1/2 cup Butter or Margarine, softened...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Crescent Cakes For Imbolc

A Ritual for Februalia

Februalia, Februa, and also Februatio, was the Roman festival of ritual purification, later incorporated into Lupercalia. The festival, which is basically one of Spring washing or cleaning (associated also with the raininess of this time of year) is old, and possibly of Sabine origin. According to Ovid, Februare as a Latin word which refers to means of purification (particularly with washing or water) derives from an earlier Etruscan word referring to purging.

The Roman month Februarius ("of Februa," whence the English February) is named for the Februa/Februatio festival, which occurred on the 15th day of the Roman month. A later Roman god Februus personified both the month and also purification, and is named for them. Thus, the month is named for the festival and not for the god.

Here is a ritual for Februata, and is appropriate any day during the month of February:

• Color: White
• Element: Earth
• Altar: Spread with a clean white cloth and place thereupon four white candles and a bowl of water, very simply.
• Offerings: Clean something externally, and at the same time clean something internally....

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More February Lore

February was named for the Roman goddess Februa, mother of Mars. As patroness of passion, she was also known as Juno Februa and St. Febronia from febris, the fever of love. Her orgiastic rites were held on February 14th, St.Valentine's Day. In Norse traditions, she is equated with Sjofn.

The Irish called this month Feabhra or an Gearran, the gelding or horse. The horse was used to draw the plough, but Gearran also means 'to cut' and 'Gearran' can be used to describe the 'cutting' Spring winds. To the Anglo-Saxons, this was Solmonath, "sun month," in honor of the gradual return of the light after the darkness of winter. According to Franking and Asatru traditions, this month is Horning, from horn, the turn of the year....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another, and  moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: February Magick and Lore